THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
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Youths seek more inclusion in governance •Continued from Page 13
fering ideas to upcoming ones. Through the expansion of civil society and the rise of local social and environmental movements, young men and women can be mobilised to exert greater influence in shaping this country positively. We have seen a few examples and we know that, given the right atmosphere, we shall help bring back the glory.” Usman believes the youth have a crucial role to play in reshaping the country by ridding it of unnecessary dichotomies and bitter politics. He said: “We want to move the country to such a level where the future will be much more important to everyone everywhere, where we will no longer settle for the same divisions and distractions and drama that pass for politics today. We want to see genuine inclusion of young people in government. We want to engender politics of commonsense and innovation,
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EMBERS of the House of Representatives have said that Climate Change could become a profitable alternative source of revenue for Nigeria if the new National Policy on Climate Change is well implemented. The lawmakers, however, warned that lack of awareness on the part of both Nigerians and implementing agencies may negate the importance of the new policy. The policy document was presented to the House Committee on Climate Change by the Minister of
•Nigerian youths
politics of shared sacrifice and shared prosperity. Yes, there are those who will continue to tell us that we can’t do this, that we can’t have what we’re looking for, that we can’t have what we
want; that we’re peddling false hopes. They may even go to the extent of changing the constitution, but...all they need to understand is the strength of our population and of course they should
look back to January 3, 2012, the fuel subsidy protests... “Young people are coming together to make a massive collective demand to be part of a future in which justice, democratic
values and politics once again matter, where the politics of unchecked individualism, and the collapse of long-term planning for the social good will be bygone.”
‘Climate change will be revenue earner’ From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja
Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafiya. While receiving the document, chairman of the committee, Eziuche Ubani expressed his delight that Nigeria is set on a positive path on tackling any uncom-
We can make money from carbon tax, carbon sales, and this is infinite. Apart from keeping our environment healthy, the country would also be making money from climate change
plimentary impacts of climate change on the environment and other sectors of the economy. He, however, advised that action should not stop at the presentation of the document. He said: “We need to keep in mind that a policy framework is just but one leg of the tripod that holds national climate change governance system. “The rest are the institutional framework as well as broad-based legal framework that specify responsibilities of the Nigerian state and its agencies to combat adverse climate change and also set up structures to maximise opportunities of climate change.” Examining the policy document, the committee stated that littoral communities require more attention as their environment has been severely impacted by climate change. In addition, the committee noted
that the policy might amount to nothing if not properly implemented. “Implementation is always the problem of comprehensive documents like this. But if well implemented, Nigeria stands to gain a lot from it. “For instance, we can make money from carbon tax, carbon sales, and this is infinite. Apart from keeping our environment healthy, the country would also be making money from climate change. “But, if we don’t have the structure, it may be impossible for money to be made from afforestation. We can get carbon zinc which we can exchange for carbon allowance; that is for those who emit to come and buy.
Bail out for burnt institution •Continued from Page 13
school authorities will continue to support his administration through prayers. Also speaking, Reverend Father Ignatius Okeke of Most Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, Abatete said the governor‘s intervention had consoled them, even as he commended the high level of success recorded in government partnership with the church in promoting education, health as well as other sectors of the economy. While conducting Governor Obi round the
•Chairman, Ikeja Local Government Area, Hon Wale Odunlami explains a point to residents during the last environmental sanitation exercise. With him are some of the council officials.
“With this document, if we invest in renewable energy, Nigeria can become a net exporter because we have a lot of sun here with which we can produce solar variables. The opportunities are enormous. It may not be immediate but the expanding opportunities are huge,” the chairman said. He, however, stressed the need for all parties involved in the execution of the policy to be adequately informed of and willing to carry out their roles. “Massive awareness campaign is required. Each agency must know what is expected of it and when, while the rest of Nigerians must also be in the know of what climate change entails, what the government is doing and what is expected of them,” he added.
premises, Rev. Sister Ngwuagu lamented that they lost everything, including their documents, clothes and other household materials. She thanked Governor Obi for his prompt response to the incident. A lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Rev. Fr. Celestine Mbaegbu condoled with the Reverend Sisters. He pointed out that God is really working in the state through Governor Obi. He stated that government’s partnership with the Church is working effectively, even as he commended Governor Obi’s humane approach to governance.